According to Pittsburgh police, detectives received a call on Sunday from a former employee at St. Justin Catholic Church on Boggs Avenue who said he took the organ for safekeeping.

The former employee told detectives that he maintained the organ from 2004 and 2010 and that he didn't want the cold weather to damage the leather bellows on the pipes, police said.

Extreme temperature changes cause the leather to become brittle and crack, police said.

The organ is valued at $200,000.

St. Justin closed in February to merge with St. Mary of the Mount Parish and was in the process of moving items.

Here is the statement from church officials, who say they will forgive the unnamed man, and not seek charges:

"In this Lenten season of repentance and transforming mercy, one Pittsburgh church now has an opportunity to show the healing power of God's love and forgiveness in action. On Feb 28th, a maintenance person discovered that an organ and its pipes had been stolen from the former St. Justin church on Mount Washington. The disappearance was reported to police immediately. The organ, was has been a vital part of the church's history and part of every mass since 1957, was valued at $200,000. St. Justin church closed last month after merging with nearby St. Mary of the Mount.

Elements of true reconciliation are: truth is confessed, there is sorrow, penance and/or restitution brings healing to damage done, and forgiveness is freely given. That's exactly what is happening.

"The person who took the organ has taken full responsibility and offered a formal apology," said Pastor Michael Stumpf. "They have promised to return it to same condition. In our estimation, this was an imprudent and terrible mistake, but not fully criminal. There was no intention to sell, and there seemed to have been no maliciousness meant toward the parish community."

A formal apology, not only to the former St. Justin community, but also to the parish and church at large, will be given. These details will be worked out with the parties involved and restitution will be made.

"The hope is that this very bizarre situation can open the door to an experience of the Divine and bring about transformation and wholeness," Father Mike said. "We are a community that must rely on forgiveness."